Sealing arrangement for a pivoted closure



Nov. 20, 1962 R. 1-. COWLEY SEALING ARRANGEMENT FOR A PIVOTED CLOSURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 22, 1959 INVENTOR RICHARD 7. COWLEY ATTORNEY Nov. 20, 1962 R. T. COWLEY SEALING ARRANGEMENT FOR A PIVOTED CLOSURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 22, 1959 INVENTOR COWLEY RICHARD T ATTORNEY Nov. 20, 1962 R. T. COWLEY 3,064,539

SEALING ARRANGEMENT FOR A PIVOTED CLOSURE Filed May 22, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 3

INVENTOR RICHARD Z' COWLEY ATTORNEY Nov. 20, 1962 R. T. COWLEY SEALING ARRANGEMENT FOR A PIVOTED CLOSURE Filed May 22, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR RICHARD Z' COWLEY ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 20, l62

3,064,539 EALING ARRANGEMENT FOR A KHVOTED CLOSURE Richard T. Cowley, Eliicott Qity, Md, assigner, by mesnc assignments, to the United States of America as represented by the ecretary of the Navy Filed 22, 1959, er. No. 815,238 3 Claims. ((31. 8-37.5)

The present invention relates to seal and closure construction and more particularly to arrangements for the provision of air and water seals between relatively moving parts of a pivoted closure.

In aircraft construction and particularly in water-based craft ports, hatches or doors of various types must, for one reason or another, be located in such positions that they either are submerged at times or are at least subjected to continuous spray and splash.

The provision of a seal and closure construction capable of preventin the entry of salt water or spray into the craft is of prime importance, for example, in the case of the door in a ball turret of a water-based bomber through which door spent shell casings are ejected. Tests conducted by the Bureau or Ordnance of the Department of the Navy have proved that without the employment of extraordinary sealing means for such a door suiticient salt water enters the turret to render the guns mounted therein totally inoperative. It becomes readily apparent that under these conditions, the entire defense system of such a water-based bomber can be rendered useless.

The present invention is directed to the combination of an arrangement of inflatable seals and a novel provision for the pivoting of such an ejection door. Further, the simplicity of the combination allows rapid conversion from a protected arrangement during submersion conditions to an operative position during fiight and cornbat.

The invention does, of course, have a much wider application than the sealing of an ejection door in a ball turret. While such a door is adapted to be open during flight, the present arrangement is equally applicable to aircraft closures normally remaining closed and sealed during flight.

In the case of the provision of seal and closure construction in pivoted doors in craft subjected to high altitude conditions in which the interior of the occupied portions of the aircraft is pressurized (thereby subjecting the joints to pressure differentials) the present invention is believed to offer means to greatly reduce leakage.

Further, in the event that in freezing weather the sealed closure is intended to be subjected to submersion followed later by opening of the closure during flight, an electrical heating element is provided to prevent freezing of the wet seal to its mating surface whereby the seal would become torn upon subsequent opening of the closure.

It is accordingly a major object of the present invention to provide inflatable water or air seals for and interior hinging of pivoted closures whereby the entire perimeter of the closure can be simply and effectively sealed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide heating elements in conjunction with the inflatable perimeter seals of closures in aircraft to prevent icing and subsequent freezing of the inflatable seals to their mating surfaces.

An added object of the present invention is to provide the combination of interior hinging of a pivoted closure and simple inflatable sealing means about the entire perimeter of said pivoted closure whereby the closure may be rapidly converted from a sealed condition to an unsealed condition permitting unimpeded opening of the closure at will.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric of the ball turret assembly shown with the turret and gun cradle at maximum elevation and the ejection door open;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the ejection door in open position;

FIG. 3 is an elevation view of the ejection door and opening;

FIG. 4 is section 4-4 of FIG. 2 taken through a door hinge, and FIG. 5 is a section taken at the same point as FIG. 4 but with the ejection door in sealing position.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown in FIG. 1 a typical ball turret assembly 11. Such a turret assembly is usually positionable in azimuth about upper turret support 12 and lower turret support 13. In addition the turret 14 is positionable in elevation whereby the freedom of movement permits the training of guns 15 over a wide pyramidal coverage. Of course, as the guns 15 are fired, hot spent cartridge cases are ejected therefrom and must be removed from within the turret 14. To accomplish this turret 14 is provided with ejection door 16 shown in FIG. 1 in open position. The actuating devices provided to open and close door 16 are the hydraulic piston assemblies 17 and 18.

In the event that such a turret assembly is to be utilized as the tail turret assembly in a seaplane there are times when the craft is sitting in the Water, taking off or landing when this turret assembly is fully submerged or at least is subject to splash and spray action. As has been stated above it is critical that the turret assembly be well-sealed against the entry of water. Thus, in order to provide a water tight door assembly the present invention was evolved employing the combination of hinging door 16 from the inside by means of hinges 19, 21 and 22. and providing inflatable perimeter seal 23. This structure is clearly shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5. By the expedient of hinging door 16 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 it becomes possible to extend seal 23 about the entire edge of door 16 without interruption. It will be readily seen that with usual hinging arrangement the seal would be interrupted at hinges 19, 21 and 22 resulting in leakage therethrough. Further, a continuous channel 24 is provided around the edges of door 16 specifically for the installation therein of seal 23. Installation of the seal in this manner prevents damage to the seal, as for example, by empty cartridge cases during the ejection thereof through door 16.

In order to provide an enclosure or mating surfaces against which seal 23 can abut to effectuate sealing action, arcuate retaining surface 26 and side or vertical end members 27 and 23 are provided. When it is desired to stow the turret (prior to landing in water, for example), turret 14 is depressed to the elevation in which position the underside of gun cradle 31 is so located as to provide an abutting surface for seal 23 along the upper side of opening 29. To complete the sealing contact where seal 23 extends to either side of gun cradle 31 the side or vertical end members 27, 28 are provided with return portions 3%, 36. It can readily be seen that vertical end members 27 and 23, gun cradle 31 and ejection platform 32 cooperate with door 16 to form an enclosure thus preventing water or foreign matter from entering the turret.

As shown in FIG. 4 arcuate retaining surface 26 is actually an extension of the turret ejection platform 32. However,-ifa door similar to door 16 in hinging and sealing arrangement were to be arranged'in a plane surface to close an opening therein it would be but a simple ma ter in view of the teachings herein adapted to a special situation. Additional sealing members 33, 34, in this case compression seals, are provided along the upper side of side members 27 and 28 respectively and are so located as to abut the underside of gun cradle 31 when turret 14-- is inthe depressed or stow position.

In addition to scaling members 33, 34 and perimeter seal 23,'heating elements 36, 37'and 38 are provided as Shown in conjunction With these seals in order to prevent freezing of the sealing members'to their mating surfaces, retaining surface 26, side members 27, 28 and gun cradle 31 in the event that the seals should become wetfrom submersion or'spray. It is contemplated that these heating elements 36,37 and 38 are heated by electricity but the exact means employed is of little moment.

In" operation, when the craft upon which turret assembly 11 is installed is about to landin water, door 16 is pivoted into closed position by hydraulic piston assemblies 17 and 18. Turret 14' is depressed to stow position to abut seals 33 and 34- to seal the upper portion of opening 29. Seal 23 is then inflated-with air under pressure through conduit 25 thereby sealing the gap around the entire periphery of door 16. Also heating elements 36, 3'7 and 38 are actuated in the event that there is any danger of freezing.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It' is therefore to be understood that within tlie'scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What' is claimed is:

1. In aircraft construction, a ball tur ret having an opening therein and a vertically moving gun cradle, an enclosure for said opening, said guncradle having an underside which forms the upper'wall of saidenclosure when in its depressed position, a pair of vertical end members I extending outwardly of said ball turret to form the end walls of said enclosure, a platform extending outwardly from'said turret forming the lower wall of said enclosure, said underside of the gun cradle, said'pair of vertical end members and said platform cooperating to form the walls of said'enclosure, a hinged'closure pivotally attached to said platform, said hinged closure being of lesser area than saidopening, hinge means connecting said closure to said platform in such a manner that the edges of said closure remain uninterrupted and said hinge means does not' interfere with said opening, a continuous outwardly opening channel extending entirely around'the periphery of said' closure, expandable sealing means attached within and co-extensive with the length of said channel, said sealing means comprising an element of ela'stic'com'position' and having an internal chamber extending the entire length thereof, a pressure source arranged for conimunication with said internal chamber whereby upon moving said hinged closure into its closed position, depressing said cradle to its 45 elevation and admitting fluid under pressure into said internal chamber said elastic element becomes distended to effectuate a complete and uninterrupted seal between the entire periphery of said hinged closure, said underside of said gun cradle, said vertical end members and'said platform thus preventing water or any foreign matter from entering said first mentioned opening. e I

2. In aircraft construction, a ball turret having an openingtherein and a vertically moving gun cradle projecting 4 therefrom, an enclosure for said opening, said gun cradle having an underside which forms the upper wall of said enclosure when in its depressed position, a pair of vertical end members extending outwardly of said ball turret to form the end walls of said enclosure, a platform extending outwardly from said turret forming the lower wall of said enclosure, said underside of the gun cradle, said pair of vertical end members and said platform cooperating together to form the walls of said enclosure, a hinged outer closure pivotally attached to said platform to form the outer wall of said enclosure, said hinged closure being of lesser area than the opening which it encloses, said hinged closure having hinge means connected'thereto in such a'rnanner that the edges of said closure remain uninterrupted'and said hinge means does not interfere with said last mentioned opening, a continuous outwardly opening channel extending entirely around the periphery of said closure, expandable sealing means, a heating element, said'sealing means and said heating element being attached within and co-extensive with the length of said channel, said sealing means comprising an element of elastic composition and having an internalchamber extending the length thereof, a pressure source operatively connected to said internal chamber whereby upon moving said hinged closure into closed position, depressingsaid gun cradle to its --45 elevation and admitting fluid under pressure into said internal chamber said elastic element becomes distended to effectuate-a complete and uninter rupted seal between the entire periphery'of said hinged closure, said'underside of said gun cradle, said vertical end members and said platform thus preventing water or foreign-matter from entering said first mentioned opening.

3; in aircraft construction, a body witha ball turrret mounted thereon, an opening in said ball turret, an en closure for said opening mounted onsaid'body, said enclosure comprising a vertically moving gun cradle extending from said ball turret, said gun cradle havingan underside which forms the upper wall of said enclosure when in its depressed position, a pair of vertical end members extendingoutwardly of said ball turret to form the end walls of said enclosure, a platform extending outwardly from said turret forming the lower wall of said enclosure, a hinged closureconnected to said platform in such a manner that the'edgc of said closure remains uninterrupted and said hinge does not interfere with said opening, said closure being of less area than said opening forming a gap between the perimeter of said hinged closure and the edge portions of said walls when said hinged closure is received'in said opening, a continuous channel formed in the edge of said closure, sealing'means in said channel for sealing said gap, said sealing means comprising an element of elastic composition having an in ternal chamber extending the entire length thereof, said element being attached to and co-e'xtensive with said channel in said hinged closure and a'pres'sure source operatively. connected to said'internal chamber, whereby said hinged closure is pivoted into juxtaposition with said opening and fluid under pressure is admitted to said internal chamber distending said element and efilecting a complete and uninterrupted seal between the'entire periphery of said hinged closure and said edge portions of said walls'thus preventing Water or any foreignmatter from entering said first mentioned opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent' UNITED STATES PATENTS Laddon Oct. 24, 1944 2,420,240 Haggerty May 6, 1947 2 ,716,529 Cze'rwinski Aug. 30, 1955 2,803,170 Black Aug; 20, 1957 2,858,408 'Barroero Oct. 28,1958 

